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“Patrons and Owners” shows how the region became highly attractive after Emperor Augustus designed Puteoli (today Puzzuoli) the official port from where all Egyptian grains entered Italy, helping the bay to become a resort for vacationing.
Roman aristocrats began building villas in the bay in the 2nd century BC. During that century and the next, ruling families built villas as well, unleashing a construction “fever” that led historian Strabo to express it looked like a “continuous city”. Julius Caesar, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula and Nero had residences there.
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